CLAS 1004 - The Ancient World through Film

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

This course takes a selection of cinematic reconstructions of the ancient world, and uses them as a "gateway" through which we introduce students to key themes in the literature and history of Greece and Rome. As films such as The Odyssey (1997), 300 (2006), Cleopatra (1964), Rome (2005), Gladiator (2000) and Agora (2009) clearly show, the ancient world continues to inspire modern film; we aim to take these examples of classical reception as a starting point for our exploration of major works and key themes. Following a series of introductory lectures that outline key starting points for those students new to Classics (and those new to film theory and reception studies), the course will divide into five sections - one for each film and the key ancient themes associated with it. We will locate each film in its proper historical setting (both modern and ancient), before moving the discussion on to consider the relevant classical texts that inspired, informed, and shaped each production. This course is not available with exemptions from lecture or tutorial attendance.

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Course Details

Course Code	CLAS 1004
Course	The Ancient World through Film
Coordinating Unit	Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Assessment	Reading exercise (10%), 1,200 word tutorial paper (20%), 1,200 word tutorial paper (30%), 2 hour exam (40%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Jacqueline Clarke

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	Appreciate the influences shaping modern film and television representations of the ancient world and the importance of taking context into account when analysing these receptions.
2	Describe and analyse the cultural and historical backgrounds of certain key periods in the Greek and Roman worlds.
3	Differentiate between ancient and modern cultures in their values, attitudes, particularly in regard to the ways in which they define and represent ‘the other’.
4	Confidently engage in close reading of primary texts across a variety of genres.
5	Prepare and deliver coherently and logically argued written material with a scholarly approach.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 2
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2, 4
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	3
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	5
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	3

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Robin Lane Fox, The Classical World (Penguin 2006)

Recommended Resources

(1) Penguin edition of Homer: The Odyssey (translated by Robert Fagles; London 1996) – for tutes 2 and 3
(2) Penguin edition of Herodotus: The Histories (London rev. edn. 2003) – for tutes 4 & 5
(3) Penguin edition of Plutarch: The Fall of the Roman Republic: Six Lives (London rev. edn. 2003) – for tutes 6 & 7

Online Learning

Powerpoints and recordings from the lectures will be placed up on MyUni after each lecture has been delivered. However, students are advised that recordings sometimes fail. Recordings are not meant to be a substitute for attending lectures.

Students are expected to consult the announcements board at least twice a week and must closely read all emails sent via MyUni.

The readings for each tutorial topic will be placed upon MyUni or directions will be supplied about how to access them.

Guidelines to formatting footnotes and bibliography are placed upon MyUni. Students are expected to read and consult these.

Learning & Teaching Modes

The format of the course consists of two lectures a week supported by problem-solving tutorials which develop topics covered in the lectures.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

2 x 1-hour lectures (or equivalent) per week	24 hours per semester
1 x 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week	12 hours per semester
5 hours reading per week	60 hours per semester
3.5 hours written work per week	42 hours per semester
1.5 hours revision per week	18 hours per semester
TOTAL WORKLOAD	156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

This programme is provisional and may be altered in accordance with the availablity of lecturers and tutors.

Schedule
Week 1	Introduction Ancient and Modern: Some Starting Points
Week 2	Odyssey: Starting points Odyssey: Folklore and Fantasy
Week 3	Odyssey: A Hero Returns Odyssey: Legacy
Week 4	300: Starting points 300: Herodotus and History
Week 5	300: East v West? 300: The Spartan Myth
Week 6	Ancient Literature on Film Ancient History on Film
Week 7	Cleopatra: Starting points Cleopatra: Roman Politics and Society
Week 8	Cleopatra: The Historical Cleopatra Cleopatra: Creating the Legend
Week 9	Gladiator: Starting points… The Empire Gladiator: History
Week 10	Gladiator: What makes a good emperor? Gladiator: A Tale of Two Emperors: Father & Son
Week 11	Agora: Christianity in the Roman world Agora: Fall of the Empire
Week 12	Farewell to Antiquity? Course Review

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Task type	Weighting	Course learning outcomes
600 word primary source analysis	Formative & summative	10%	2, 4
250 word essay 1	Formative & summative	20%	1-5
250 word essay 2	Formative & summative	30%	1-5
Exam	Summative	40%	1-5

Assessment Related Requirements

Students are expected to attend the lectures and tutorials and do the reading preparation for all the topics. They are also normally required to bring the relevant primary source excerpts to the tutorials so that they can consult and refer to them during the discussion.

Assessment Detail

600 word primary resource analysis: students will compare and contrast two primary source excerpts - 10% weighting

250 word essay 1: students submit an essay on a chosen topic - 20% weighting

250 word essay 2: students submit an essay on a chosen topic - 30% weighting

Exam: covers all aspects of the course - 40% weighting

Submission

Essays are to be handed in to your tutor.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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